Noncommunicable diseases and the use
of health services: analysis of the National
Health Survey in Brazil
Deborah Carvalho MaltaI, Regina Tomie Ivata BernalII, Margareth Guimarães LimalII, Silvânia
Suely Caribé de AraújoIV, Marta Maria Alves da SilvaV, Maria Imaculada de Fátima FreitasI,
Marilisa Berti de Azevedo BarroslII
I Departamento de Enfermagem Materno Infantil e Saúde Pública. Escola de Enfermagem. Universidade Federal
de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
II Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutrição e Saúde. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São
Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
III Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade Estadual de
Campinas. Campinas, SP, Brasil
IV Departamento de Vigilância de Doenças e Agravos Não Transmissíveis e Promoção da Saúde. Secretaria de
Vigilância em Saúde. Ministério da Saúde. Brasília, DF, Brasil
V Hospital das Clínicas. Universidade Federal de Goiás. Goiânia, GO, Brasil
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether sex, education level, and health insurance afect the use of health services among the adult Brazilian population with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD).
METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional survey were analyzed, the National Health Survey (PNS). Frequency of use of services in the population that referred at least one NCD were compared with the frequency from a population that did not report NCD, according to sex, education level, health insurance, and NCD number (1, 2, 3, 4, or more). he prevalence and prevalence ratios were calculated crude and adjusted for sex, age, region, and 95% conidence intervals.
RESULTS: The presence of a noncommunicable disease was associated with increase in hospitalizations in the last 12 months, in 1.7 times (95%CI 1.53–1.9). Failing to perform usual activities in the last two weeks for health reasons was 3.1 times higher in NCD carriers (95%CI 2.78–3.46); while the prevalence of medical consultation in the last 12 months was 1.26 times higher (95%CI 1.24–1.28). NCD carriers make more use of health services, as well as women, people with higher number of comorbidities, with health insurance, and higher education level. CONCLUSIONS: NCD carriers make more use of health services, as well as women, people with higher number of comorbidities, with health insurance, and higher education level. DESCRIPTORS: Chronic Disease, epidemiology. Health Services, utilization. Health Services Accessibility. Health Services Needs and Demand. Equity in Access. Health Surveys.
Correspondence: Deborah Carvalho Malta Departamento de Enfermagem Materno Infantil e Saúde Pública, Escola de Enfermagem – UFMG Av. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia
30130-100 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
E-mail: dcmalta@uol.com.br
Received: 20 Jun 2016 Approved: 4 Jan 2017
How to cite: Malta DC, Bernal RTI, Lima MG, Araújo SSC, Silva MMA, Freitas MIF, et al. Noncommunicable diseases and the use of health services: analysis of the National Health Survey in Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51 Suppl 1:4s.
Copyright: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original author and source are credited.
INTRODUCTION
Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) (cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cancers) are responsible for about 70% of all deaths worldwide – around 38 million deaths annually. Of these, 16 million deaths occur prematurely (people under 70 years of age) and nearly 28 million in low-and middle-income countriesa,b.
Evidences indicate an increase in NCD due to the growth of the four main risk factors (smoking, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diets)1,a,b,c. herefore, intervention in
the risk factors would result in the reduction of the number of deaths around the worlda,b,c.
An epidemic of NCD results in devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities, and it also overloads health systemsa,b. Studies show that NCDs are more
likely to afect low-income populations, as they are more vulnerable and more exposed to the risk factor, as well as having less access to health services and health promotion and
disease prevention practices2,a. he World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that people
with NCD have their poverty exacerbated by the largest family spending due to the disease, seeking of services, among others2,b.
he socioeconomic costs associated with NCD have repercussions on the economies of the countries – estimated at US$7 trillion, for 2011-2025, in countries of low and medium
incomea. hus, worldwide reduction of NCD is a necessary condition for the development
of the 21st century2,d,e.
In September 2011, this scenario resulted in the commitment of world leaders at the UN Assembly of deining concrete actions to ight these diseasesf. In 2013, the World Health
Assembly adopted a comprehensive global monitoring program with 25 indicators and nine voluntary goals to 2025, in addition to approving the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2020d. Among the goals set are the reduction
of 25% of deaths caused by NCD, reduction of risk factors (smoking, alcohol, salt, physical inactivity), and access to medicines, advice and technologies for treatment of NCDsd. Access
to assistance by NCD carriers, including medical consultations, primary health care, access to medicines, laboratory tests, clinical practice and counseling, beneits the assistance to NCD carriers and improves quality of life3.
WHO highlights that several populations in diferent countries have hindered access and utilization of health services, which is the main barrier when facing NCD, especially to minimize the sufering of those who are already sick4,a,b. herefore, facing NCD involves
governance and public policies and actions aimed at the prevention and reduction of the risk factors, access to health care, organization of surveillance and monitoring, in addition to confronting the social determinants such as reduction of poverty and social inequality,
themes that were included in the sustainable development challenges2,e.
he use of health services is higher among sick people. Travassos et al.5 highlighted that the
determinants of use of the services comprehend the health needs or the existence of the disease, as well as its severity and urgency. Other factors of demand for services would be demographic characteristics of users, such as age, sex, region of housing, and socioeconomic status (income, education). Additionally, there are factors related to service providers, such as professional experience, specialty, available resources, geographic and social access, funding, health insurance services, among others5.
It is important to monitor the access and use of services among people with NCD, due to the high burden of disease, which has been even more magniied because of population aging. he high use of health services requires planning of services and adequacy of policies and ofers. It is essential to know this demand5-7.
In 2013, aiming to monitor these themes, Brazil carried out the National Health Survey (PNS), a household and population-based survey that includes topics such as NCD and access and
a World Health Organization.
Health statistics and information systems: estimates for
2000-2012. Geneva: WHO; s.d. [cited 2014 Nov 3]. Available from: http://www.who.int/ healthinfo/global_burden_ disease/estimates/en/index1.html
b World Health Organization.
Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. Geneva: WHO; 2011 [cited 2014 Nov 3]. Available from: http://www.who.int/nmh/ publications/ncd_report2010/en/
c World Health Organization.
From burden to “best buys”: reducing the economic impact of non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: executive summary 2011. Geneva: World Health Organization; World Economic Forum; 2011 [cited 2014 Nov 3]. Available from: http://www.who. int/nmh/publications/best_buys_ summary/en/
d World Health Organization.
Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. Geneva: WHO; 2013 [cited 2014 Oct 20]. Available from: http://www.who.int/nmh/ events/ncd_action_plan/en/
e Organização das Nações
Unidas no Brasil – ONU-BR. 17 objetivos para transformar nosso mundo: objetivo 3: assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades. Brasília (DF); 2015 [cited 2016 Jan 5]. Available from: https:// nacoesunidas.org/pos2015/ods3/
f World Health Organization.
use of servicesg. he questionnaire of the 2013 PNS covered a broader set of NCD, beyond
those advocated by WHOb – such as back problems, arthritis, rheumatism, and chronic
kidney diseases –, as they are high magnitude causes of morbidity, in addition to being responsible for loss of quality of life of the populationg. 2013 PNS identiied that 45% of the
Brazilian adult population reported having at least one NCD, the most frequent being: high
blood pressure, pain in the spine or back, diabetes, arthritis or rheumatism, depression, and bronchitis or asthma8,g.
his study aims to assess whether sex, education level, and health insurance afect health
services use among the adult Brazilian population with NCD.
METHODS
Data from the cross-sectional study PNS, developed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, were analyzed. his is the most complete research on health and its determinants ever carried out in the Country9,10.
Counting with its own design, the survey collects information on several aspects of health. PNS sampling plan was developed by conglomerates in three stages of selection. In the irst stage, primary care units (UPA) were selected by simple random sampling, consisting of census tracts or sets of census tracts (when the tracts counted with few households). In the second stage, a ixed number of households were selected by simple random sampling for each UPA, ranging from 10 to 14. In each household sampled, one resident with 18 years or more was selected, also by simple random sampling, to take part in the third stage of selection9,10.
Sample was calculated at approximately 80,000 households. Information were collected on 62,986 households. he calculation took into account average values, variances, and the efects of the sampling plan, assuming a nonresponse rate of 20%9,10,g.
he information on access to and use of health services were obtained by the household informant (proxy informant), who answered on use of services in the name of all residents. Valid information was collected for 205 thousand residentsg.
he weights of the households and all its residents were calculated by the product of the weight of the UPA in question and the inverse of the probability of selection of the household within the UPA. he weights were adjusted to correct nonresponses and to calibrate the estimates according to population totals known from other sources. he selection of the resident who answered to the individual interview was done by simple random sampling. hus, the weight of the selected resident was calculated by the product of the weight of the household by the number of eligible residents (equivalent to the inverse of the probability of selection). More details can be consulted in another studyg.
Data collection was carried out with the use of handheld computers (personal digital assistant), programmed to critique the received values. he PNS questionnaire is divided in three parts: household information; information of all residents, answered by one resident (proxy); information about the selected resident, answered only by himself/herself (being an adult aged 18 years or more)9,10,g.
In the section concerning the selected resident, 60,202 interviews were carried out with the adult selected at the household. his study analyzes information regarding NCDs, one or more diseases referred among the following: hypertension; diabetes; heart disease; stroke; asthma; arthritis or rheumatism; WMSD (work-related musculoskeletal disorder); cancer; chronic renal failure; chronic back problem; depression, or other mental illness; and lung disease (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or COPD). he question referred to previous medical diagnosis for most NCDs, except in the case of chronic back pain, which was self-reported, and in the case of depression and mental health, which considered previous diagnosis of a physician or mental health professional (such as a psychiatrist or psychologist).
g Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia
In the case of the proxy informant, in the household questionnaire, questions were made and the respondent answered for all residents. he questions concerned: a) In the last two weeks, did you seek any place, service or health professional for health-related care? (J14); b) In the last two weeks, did you fail to perform any of your usual activities due to your health? (J2); c) When did you last see a doctor? (J11 = 1 = in the last 12 months); d) In the last 12 months, did you stay in the hospital for 24 hours or more? (J37).
Frequency of use of services in the population that referred at least one NCD were compared with the frequency from a population that did not report NCD, according to sex, education level, health insurance, and NCD number or comorbidities (1, 2, 3, 4, or more). he prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated crude and adjusted for sex, age, region, and 95% conidence intervals. As the data was collected using a complex sampling design, the statistical analysis was carried out with an application that takes into consideration the efect of sampling plan and the unequal probabilities of selection. he data were analyzed in the Stata 11.0 software, using the survey mode, which takes into consideration the efects of complex samplingh.
he PNS was approved by the National Committee of Ethics in Research (Process: 328,159, June 26, 2013). All individuals were consulted, the survey was clariied to them, and they
agreed to participate.
RESULTS
he study showed that reporting the presence of at least one chronic disease was shown to be associated, to the Brazilian adult population in 2013, with the increased use of health services in the last two weeks, 25.6% in adults with and 10.8% in adults without NCD (adjusted PR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.88–2.18). he presence of chronic disease was associated with: increased hospitalization, 1.7 times over the last 12 months (95%CI 1.53–1.9); failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for health reasons, 3.1 times higher than those who did not report NCD (95%CI 2.78–3.46); and prevalence of medical consultation in the last 12 months, 1.26 times greater (95%CI 1.24–1.28) (Table 1). he same pattern repeats itself with higher PR, when comparing the same indicators, among the population with and without NCD, for both women and men. In other words, the population with NCD uses more health service and fails more frequently to perform activities. Women with and without NCD, compared with men with and without NCD, have higher PR for the use of health services, hospitalization, medical consultation, and failing to perform usual activities for health reasons.
Table 2 presents strong gradients of increased use of health services with the increase in the number of diseases, and the associations are found even in the presence of only one NCD. he associations showed great magnitude, especially considering the indicator failing to perform activities for health reasons (PR = 6.62, comparing four or more diseases with no NCD). he use of health services and hospitalization in the last 12 months were respectively 3.4 and 3.3 times greater in the presence of four or more NCDs. he associations tend to be similar among men and women. However, the association among use of services and hospitalization is higher in males, in the presence of three chronic diseases.
Regarding health insurance, the prevalence of use of health services was higher in individuals with NCDs, considering all the indicators used in the study (Table 3). Individuals without health insurance, with or without NCD, had lower prevalence of use of services, hospitalization, and medical consultation. To the “failing to perform activities for health reasons” indicator, the prevalence was 22% greater in the population without health insurance only for individuals
with NCDs (Table 3).
he population with NCD uses more health services than those without NCD at all educational levels studied (Table 4). It is also possible to observe that by comparing the use of services in the extreme education levels (illiterate/some elementary school with higher
education degree), those who have studied less and reported a NCD had higher prevalence
h The microdata (free access)
Table 1. Use of health services and failing to perform activities for health reasons in the population with and without NCD, according to sex. National Health Survey, 2013.
Variable Population with NCD Population without NCD Crude PRa
Adjusted
PRb 95%CI
Total % %
Use of health services in the last two weeks 25.64 10.87 2.36 2.02 1.88–2.18
Hospitalization in the last 12 months 9.61 4.91 1.96 1.7 1.53–1.9
Failing to perform activities in the last two
weeks for health reasons 12.92 4.06 3.18 3.1 2.78–3.46
Medical consultation in the last 12 months 84.96 65.36 1.3 1.26 1.24–1.28
Males % Adjusted PR (95%CI)c %
Adjusted PR (95%CI)c
Use of health services in the last two weeks 20.89 1 8.31 1 2.52 2.1 1.86–2.38
Hospitalization in the last 12 months 8.69 1 3.05 1 2.85 2.14 1.78–2.58
Failing to perform activities in the last two
weeks for health reasons 10.73 1 3.63 1 2.95 2.73 2.28–3.27
Medical consultation in the last 12 months 78.69 1 56.96 1 1.38 1.31 1.26–1.35
Females
Use of health services in the last two weeks 28.93 1.38 (1.27–1.51) 13.67 1.65 (1.48–1.84) 2.12 1.96 1.8–2.14 Hospitalization in the last 12 months 10.24 1.18 (1.04–1.34) 6.94 2.28 (1.90–2.74) 1.48 1.5 1.31–1.72 Failing to perform activities in the last two
weeks for health reasons 14.45 1.34 (1.20–1.50) 4.53 1.25 (1.04–1.50) 3.19 2.92 2.53–3.38
Medical consultation in the last 12 months 89.31 1.13 (1.11–1.16) 74.51 1.31 (1.27–1.35) 1.2 1.18 1.16–1.2
a Crude PR, comparing use of health services according to presenting or not a chronic disease.
b Adjusted PR by age and region, comparing use of health services according to presenting or not a chronic disease. c Adjusted PR by age and region, comparing use of health services according to sex.
Table 2. Use of health services and failing to perform activities for health reasons according to the number of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD). National Health Survey, 2013.
Variable
Population without
NCD
Population with NCD –
number of morbidities Prevalence ratiosa
(0) 1 2 3 4 or
more 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0
Total
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) J14 10.87 20.06 26.65 37.28 46.56 (1.58–1.87) 1.72 (1.97–2.39)2.17 (2.62–3.23)2.91 (3.09–3.87)3.46
Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) J37 4.91 7.15 10.44 13.57 19.30 1.38 (1.20–1.58)
1.94 (1.68–2.24)
2.44 (2.03–2.93)
3.33 (2.75–4.04) Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) J2 4.06 9.06 13.31 21.16 28.23
2.18 (1.92–2.48)
3.19 (2.79–3.65)
5.03 (4.25–5.95)
6.62 (5.56–7.90)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 65.36 79.95 89.15 92.78 96.45 (1.16–1.21)1.19 (1.26–1.32)1.29 (1.28–1.35)1.32 (1.30–1.37)1.33
Males
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) J14 8.31 16.24 21.69 38.10 43.02 (1.55–2.07)1.79 (1.87–2.62)2.21 (3.09–4.47)3.71 (3.15–5.07)4.00
Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) J37 3.05 6.16 9.55 15.55 23.50 (1.35–2.15)1.71 (1.89–3.03)2.39 (2.65–4.90)3.60 (3.58–7.49)5.18
Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) J2 3.63 8.31 11.12 17.89 26.00
2.25 (1.83–2.77)
3.05 (2.14–3.84)
4.92 (3.64–6.66)
7.19 (5.09–10.15)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 56.96 73.39 84.47 91.15 92.13 (1.21–1.29)1.25 (1.33–1.45)1.39 (1.41–1.54)1.47 (1.37–1.55)1.46
Females
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) J14 13.67 23.17 29.97 36.85 47.78 (1.50–1.84)1.66 (1.89–2.36)2.11 (2.26–2.91)2.57 (2.90–3.73)3.29
Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) J37 6.94 7.95 11.03 12.54 17.87 (1.01–1.43)1.20 (1.45–2.06)1.73 (1.58–2.53)2.00 (2.32–3.62)2.89
Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) J2 4.53 9.67 14.77 22.86 28.99
2.13 (1.80–2.52)
3.26 (2.75–3.86)
5.06 (4.14–6.20)
6.46 (5.26–7.93)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 74.51 85.27 92.27 93.63 97.93 (1.11–1.17)1.14 (1.20–1.25)1.23 (1.20–1.28)1.24 (1.26–1.32)1.29
of failing to perform activities for health reasons (PR = 1.41; 95%CI 1.16–1.72) and lower prevalence of medical consultation in the last 12 months (PR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.90–0.94). People without NCD presented lower prevalence of use of health services and medical consultation in the lower education levels (PR = 0.81; 95%CI 0.69–0.97 and PR = 0.75; 95%CI 0.72–0.78, respectively).
Table 4. Use of health services and failing to perform activities for health reasons according to education level. National Health Survey, 2013.
Variable Population with NCD Population without NCD Crude
PRa Adjusted PRb % PR (95%CI)c % PR (95%CI)c
Illiterate/Some elementary school
Use of health services in the last two weeks 26.28 0.91 (0.81–1.03) 10.50 0.81 (0.69–0.97) 2.50 2.28 (2.03–2.57) Hospitalization in the last 12 months 10.63 1.04 (0.85–1.28) 5.08 1.22 (0.94–1.59) 2.09 2.05 (1.74–2.43) Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons 15.09 1.41 (1.16–1.72) 4.96 1.19 (0.89–1.59) 3.04 2.95 (2.46–3.55)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 84.42 0.91 (0.90–0.94) 56.55 0.75 (0.72–0.78) 1.49 1.43 (1.38–1.48) Elementary school/Some high school
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) J14 23.13 0.86 (0.74–1.00) 9.91 0.82 (0.68–0.99) 2.33 2.18 (1.86–1.48) Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) J37 8.73 0.96 (0.74–1.23) 4.81 1.10 (0.83–1.46) 1.82 1.63 (1.26–2.11) Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) J2 11.86 1.20 (0.95–1.52) 3.62 0.85 (0.63–1.15) 3.28 3.22 (2.48–4.19)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 83.23 0.93 (0.90–0.96) 63.08 0.85 (0.81–0.88) 1.32 1.26 (1.21–1.32) High School/Some higher education
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) J14 24.75 0.94 (0.82–1.07) 10.62 0.85 (0.73–0.98) 2.33 2.21 (1.96–2.49) Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) J37 8.36 0.95 (0.75–1.21) 4.90 1.07 (0.83–1.39) 1.71 1.58 (1.30–1.92) Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) J2 10.88 1.12 (0.91–1.38) 3.49 0.82 (0.65–1.04) 3.12 3.00 (2.49–3.61)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) J11 = 01 84.08 0.95 (0.92–0.97) 68.73 0.90 (0.87–0.93) 1.22 1.20 (1.16–1.23) Higher education degree
Use of health services in the last two weeks (%) 27.84 1 13.74 1 2.03 1.99 (1.71–2.32)
Hospitalization in the last 12 months (%) 9.15 1 4.70 1 1.95 1.91 (1.44–2.54)
Failing to perform activities in the last two weeks for
health reasons (%) 9.83 1 4.17 1 2.36 2.36 (1.80–3.09)
Medical consultation in the last 12 months (%) 91.04 1 79.21 1 1.15 1.14 (1.11–1.18)
a Crude PR, comparing use of health services according to presenting or not a chronic disease.
b Adjusted PR by age and region, comparing use of health services according to presenting or not a chronic disease. c Adjusted PR by age and region, comparing use of health services according to education level.
Table 3. Use of health services and failing to perform activities for health reasons according to health insurance. National Health Survey, 2013.
Variable Population with NCD Population without NCD Crude PRa
Adjusted
PRb 95%CI % PR (95%CI)c % PR (95%CI)c
Possess health insurance
Use of health services in the last two weeks 29.91 1 13.95 1 2.14 1.93 1.70–2.18
Hospitalization in the last 12 months 10.87 1 6.03 1 1.80 1.54 1.22–1.93
Failing to perform activities in the last two
weeks for health reasons 10.98 1 4.21 1 2.61 2.47 1.98–3.07
Medical consultation in the last 12 months 93.40 1 82.20 1 1.14 1.11 1.09–1.14
Do not possess health insurance
Use of health services in the last two weeks 24.10 0.86 (0.79–0.93) 9.96 0.76 (0.67–0.86) 2.42 2.06 1.88–2.25 Hospitalization in the last 12 months 9.15 0.85 (0.74–0.98) 4.58 0.76 (0.63–0.91) 2.00 1.76 1.56–1.99 Failing to perform activities in the last two
weeks for health reasons 13.62 1.22 (1.07–1.40) 4.02 0.91 (0.73–1.12) 3.39 2.93 2.58–3.32
Medical consultation in the last 12 months 81.93 0.90 (0.89–0.91) 60.36 0.76 (0.74–0.78) 1.36 1.28 1.25–1.31
a Crude PR, comparing use of health services according to presenting or not a chronic disease.
DISCUSSION
he results show that, of the 45% of adults who reported having a NCD, 25% used health services in the last two weeks. People with NCD use the services twice as much than adults without NCD. NCD carriers reported more hospitalization, failed to perform activities in the last two weeks for health reasons and attended more medical consultations in the last 12 months. he population with NCD, for both sexes, uses more health services than the population without NCD. he study also identiied that women use the services more, both for consultations and hospitalizations, and reported more frequently of failing to perform activities for health reasons in the last two weeks. he increase in comorbidities also increased the demand for health services. he use of health services according to
education level showed that those who have studied less and reported having a NCD had
higher prevalence of hospitalization in the last 12 months, higher prevalence of failing to perform activities for health reasons, and higher prevalence of medical consultation in the last 12 months. Individuals without health insurance, with or without NCD, had lower prevalence of use of services, hospitalization, and medical consultation, when compared
to those with health insurance.
Users with NCDs
NCD carries had used the health services more, i.e., the need felt by the user is the biggest motivator for the demand and use of health services. his may be explained by the demands of routine or intercurrence consultations, greater comorbidities, and also by other diseases or
aggravations2,10,i. In fact, the use of the service is determined by the need perceived by users
as a result of the health situation and their previous knowledge of their disease or health
condition11,12. We highlight the causal relationship between disease and the use of health
services, disease being the main responsible for the use of health services6,7,12.
A study that analyzed data from the Brazil National Household Sample Survey in 2003 and 2008 indicate that individuals with chronic diseases seek health services more13. PNS
conirmed that more motivation for using the service is linked to the presence of diseases. herefore, it is important to monitor the use of the services in this population, to establish strategies to adapt the demand and consumption of these services13.
Travassos et al.5 consider the fact the user feel susceptible to a given health problem is an
important motivator for using the services. Some authors emphasize that the severity of the disease and the belief in the beneits from the treatment or preventive action are important elements for the use of health services5,14. According to Travassos et al.5, this situation is
due to the subjective perception of the risk of having a disease and the perceived gravity, in addition to feelings and concerns regarding the consequences of the disease, such as death, pain, or disability, as well as worse living conditions.
Number of NCDs
he PNS also identiied increased use of services as the number of NCDs or comorbidities increased, which may be related to greater awareness of the severity of the disease, its risks,
and health threats5.
Sex
he sociodemographic characteristics of users are among the determinants of use of health services. he study identiied that women use the services more, both in consultations and hospitalizations, and report more limitations due to NCDs. his increased consumption was already identiied by other authors5,13,15, who attributed this usage to women’s higher
perception of the symptoms and signs of disease and, consequently, increased demand for services, physicians, tests, and promotion and prevention practices. Women who are not NCD carriers also presented high use of health services due to the practices of promotion, other acute diseases, and pregnancy5,13,15.
i Cesar CLG, Goldbaum M.
Health Insurance
Individuals with health insurance, with or without NCD, presented more use of services, hospitalization, and medical consultation. his result corroborates the data from the PNAD, which showed that people with private health insurance presented higher prevalence of medical consultation and hospitalization in the last 12 months, and of use of services in the last two weeks, as well as smaller proportions of restriction of activities, when compared to
the social segment that did not have health insurance13,16.
Studies comparing users that only had access to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) with beneficiaries of complementary health observed lower frequencies of medical consultations and screening examinations in the first group17-19. The use
by complementary health users is of 5.1 consultations per beneficiary of insurance consultations a yearj – about double of the parameter per year provided for the general
population (2 to 3 consultations per inhabitant/year)k,l,m. SUS has as its principles
universal access, completeness and fairness, which ensures the use and access of services for the population with lower educational level, income, and no health insurance. However, differences in the use of services that benefit people who have health insurance remain. The population with health insurance may also have greater opportunity to access to services, by accessing the services of both SUS and complementary health20.
Education Level
Studies conducted in developed countries found a higher prevalence of NCDs in
populations with lower education level13,17.In Brazil, many chronic diseases present a
social gradient that grows in the direction of the most socially vulnerable segments, as observed in this study. he two editions of the Pesquisa Nacional por Amostragem de Domicílio (PNAD – National Household Sampling Survey) (2003 and 2008)13 found lower
use of health services and lower proportion of medical consultations in populations with lower education level. his pattern persisted in this study. Users with NCD and higher
education used services more, compared to the less educated.We would like to highlight
the iniquity on occurrence of NCDs in the population without insurance, which showed the highest degree of limitation in performing the activities in the two previous weeks, for reasons of health.
Among the limitations of the study is the cross-sectional design, which, although advantageous due to the speed and low cost, has disadvantages inherent to the study, such as the possibility of reverse causality. he use of self-reported diagnosis is also subjected to access to health services. In addition, this study used two diferent sections of the PNS: the randomly chosen resident answered about self-reported NCDs; and the use of health services (section J) was answered by one of the residents, not necessarily the chosen resident, which may bias the presented prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS
NCD carriers make more use of health services, as well as women, people with higher number of comorbidities, with health insurance, and higher education level.
Investing in health systems is critical to improve the results of NCDs, which includes the strengthening of the health system, inancing, governance, management, human resources in health, health information, and access to technologies and medicinesa,b,d.
Indicators of use of health services are important to assess health care quality, regarding access and use of the services by the diferent segments of the population. Knowing how
NCD carriers use health services is essential to reduce access barriers and guide health
policies, providing equity in access to resources, as well as guiding the design of policies
directed at reducing vulnerabilitiesd. j Instituto de Estudos de Saúde
Suplementar. Guia de Saúde Suplementar. São Paulo: IESS; 2013 [cited 2017 Jan 24]. Available from: http://www.iess. org.br/guia_iess_tela.pdf
k Ministério da Saúde (BR).
Portaria nº 3.295, de 13 de novembro de 1998. Aprova o Manual para Organização da Atenção Básica no Sistema Único de Saúde, e dá outras providências. Brasília (DF); 1998 [cited 2017 Jan 25]. Available from: http://bvsms.saude.gov. br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/1998/ prt3925_13_11_1998_rep.html
l Ministério da Saúde (BR).
Programa de Atenção Básica. Portaria nº 832 de 28 de junho de 1999. Regulamenta o processo de acompanhamento e de avaliação da Atenção Básica à Saúde, quanto aos resultados a serem alcançados e quanto à oferta de serviços financiados pelo Piso de Atenção Básica – PAB, conforme expresso na Norma Operacional Básica do SUS 01/96 e no Manual para Organização da Atenção Básica à Saúde e dá outras providências. Diario Oficial União. 29 Jun 1999. DO 122-E.
m Ministério da Saúde (BR),
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Funding: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientíico e Tecnológico (CNPq – Processo 307865/2014-2 – productivity scholarship granted to DCM).
Authors’ Contribution: Conception of the study, irst draft, literature review, data analysis and interpretation, and review of the manuscript: DCM. Conception of the study, statistical analysis, data analysis and interpretation, critical review of the manuscript: RTIB. Conception of the study, literature review, data analysis and interpretation, critical review of the manuscript: MGL, MBAB. Data analysis, critical review of the manuscript: MMAS, MIFF. All authors approved the inal version and take public responsibility for the article’s content.
